2002 Volkswagen Jetta Side/Window Problems
- 63
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 63 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 14 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- passenger side · 32 records
- airbags deployed · 17 records
- side curtain · 15 records
- side deployed · 11 records
- side airbags · 11 records
- deployed without · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 14 |
| 1–30k mi | 11 |
| 100–150k mi | 7 |
| 60–100k mi | 6 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Side/Window
I was driving my 2002 vw jetta, my 6 year old was riding in the backseat in the passenger side when the passenger side curtain airbags spontaneously went off!!! It sounded like a shot gun went off in the car, scared both of us!! I did not hit anything, anyone, no one was even driving around me! It was crazy! I thought the car was on fire due to the smoke coming out of the airbag.... No on was hurt but it was…
ODI 10373693
Side/Window
Passenger side air bags in a 2002 vw jetta deployed after hitting a pothole on a city street at approximately 25 mph. The adult in the passenger seat received bruises on his arm from the deployment. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10345253
Side/Window
Was driving along a graded dirt road when passenger side airbag and side curtain airbag deployed suddenly. There was no side impact whatsoever, and was not able to determine any cause of airbag deploying. Two passengers in the car suffered temporary ringing in their ears and headaches, but no significant injuries occurred, thank goodness. Have contacted dealer for information about repairs, but nothing has been done…
ODI 10340477
Side/Window
Side curtain and seat airbag deployed while driving at 35-40 mph. No damage to the car other than that caused by the airbags deploying. No potholes in the smooth paved road near the intersection of fl sr70 and us301. No debris in the road or any reason for the airbags to have deployed. Driver received welt and bruises on the ribs from the seat airbag. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10295011
Air Bags · Mechanical · Side/Window
I have a 2002 volkswagen jetta this morning while driving my car to work in houston texas on interstate 59 south my driverside window airbag deployed as well as the seat airbag. After getting to the side of the road my car cranked back up and i got out to inspect if there was any damages. I found no damages on the car and the air bag deployed for no reason. I am lucky i did not swerve or there would have been a huge…
ODI 10278518
Side/Window
2002 vw sedan wa broad sided by a motorcycle. It hit the right front door and buckled the center post and bent the roof and the dash was pushed in. The vw has front and side airbags. None of the air bags deployed. My son was covered with glass and the right hand mirror just missed him. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10279236
Side/Window
Car information: 2002 volkswagen jetta #: while exiting driveway, rear tire became caught on curb. Airbags deployed on passenger side (side curtain protection airbag and backrest side airbag). No collision had occurred. Car immediately died in street but later started. Contacted insurance company, as well as vw dealer. *tr
ODI 10242236
Side/Window
2002 vw jetta,husband ran over pothole, passenger side airbags deployed. Had to tow car and get rental. No impact or accident. Waiting for vw to look at car. Am sure they will say it's our fault just from what i'm seeing on web. How can government have 499 plus incidents of investigation and not make vw recall?? Maybe not until someone dies and they get sued. *tr
ODI 10241709
Side/Window
I was driving my 2002 volkswagen jetta and hit a pot hole in the road causing my passenger, side and head air bags to deploy. There was no impact. My passenger side tire hit the pot hole. There were hundreds of reports of this occurring. I researched online and probably many more since then. I was wondering if there was a recall made, and if not, why not? Yes, these are good if a real crash occurred, but dangerous…
ODI 10235547
Side/Window
Was driving down the street and my side air bags deploy for no reason. I did not hit anything there is no damage done to my car nor been in a accident. Went to vw southern states and was told that my car only has a 50,000 mile warranty and that i have to pay for the car to get fixed. About 3,000 dollars he said..... *tr
ODI 10224638
Retractor · Side/Window · Unknown Or Other
I inadvertently hit a pot hole. The pot hole was probably a little deeper than most. The driver's side-curtain airbag, the seat side airbag and the seatbelt tensioner were deployed. There was no damage to the car. There was no immediate danger to me. I did not lose control of the car even with the startling deployment of the safety systems. I was told by the guy in one of the body shops that i went to to get…
ODI 10220682
Side/Window
While driving down the road at about 30 mph the side curtain airbags and the seat airbags wrongfully deployed. There was no reason whatsoever for this to happen. *tr
ODI 10255603
Side/Window
I was driving less than 10 mph through a parking lot, pulling into a spot when my side air bags deployed. I saw that there is an existing complaint (nhtsa action number : pe04081) outlining this exact problem. When i got out of my car to inspect i found that i had hit nothing. There was no impact, not even a scratch. The repair is pending with my local vw dealer. I am not yet sure who will financially be…
ODI 10205628
Side/Window
I was driving the car normally and at the speed limit on a road close to my home when i drove over a small bump or pothole in the road. Normally, this impact would have been so small as to barely cause any extra motion in the car. However, on this occasion, after i ran over the bump, the driver's side seat and driver's side front and back curtain airbags deployed. I was startled when this occurred and accidentally…
ODI 10193388
Side/Window
The passenger side air bag/ curtain on 2002 volkswagen jetta, deployed while turning right on a winding road. I was traveling under 20 mph. The engine shut off, and because it was on a blind turn i was almost hit by a car behind me. After 30 seconds i turned the engine on, and pulled over to a safe area to inspect the car. I travel the road everyday and no pot holes exist. The dealer said that the computer did not…
ODI 10187482
Side/Window
Left side air bags deployed without warning on my 2002 volkswagen jetta on 1/30/07. Vw claims there is crash data in the onboard computer. However no accident / crash occurred. The air bags deployed on their own. I see according to nhtsa #pe04081 that the investigation is closed on this. I'll bet this inadvertent air bag deployment continues to happen and only after someone gets killed and law suits fly will…
ODI 10181921
Side/Window
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 35 mph over a pothole, the passenger side curtain airbags deployed. The dealership was alerted. Updated 12/01/06. *jb
ODI 10171583
Frontal · Side/Window
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20 mph the driver and side curtain air bag deployed without warning. The dealer determined by computer diagnostic that a crash occurred although no crash actually occurred. The dealer can give no other reason for the deployment.
ODI 10159109
Side/Window
The '02 jetta 1.8t 4-door was stopped at a red light. The jetta proceeded into intersection. Jetta was hit (t-boned) on drivers side door and rear passenger door by 1995 grand marquis, mercury in excess of 45 mph. Ticket was issued for failing to stop at a red light, no braking on part of the mercury. Extensive damage to the jetta - the front door was driven into the drivers cage which moved the front seat and bent…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10152649
Side/Window
My husband was driving down manchester road (a busy [redacted]) getting ready to make a right hand when the passenger airbags deployed. He said it sounded like a gunshot went off in the car. He was able to pull the car into a walgreens parking lot. My 4 year old son was suppose to be in the car with him. He would have been injured if he was. This is a serious defect and needs to be acknowledged and dealt with. There…
ODI 10142182
Side/Window
After making a right turn getting up to a speed between 25-30 mph my driver side airbags deployed for no apparent reason even with the roads in good condition. 30-40 seconds more and i would have been merging on to on a busy interstate in which could have resulted in personal injury to myself and other drivers, along with car damages. Luckily this happened before time. Vw rep refuses to solve the issue by replacing…
1 injury
ODI 10138204
Side/Window
Passenger side curtain airbag and seat airbag deployment with no collision. Passenger side airbag sensor too sensitive. Slight swerve and brake to avoid small animal. No collision involved. Car has no visible signs of damage. Never in an accident. Currently in the process of contacting vwoa. *nm
ODI 10132973
Side/Window
While driving on an interstate highway with my girlfriend in the pass seat, the driver's side curtain airbags deployed for no reason. There was no impact or pothole hit. I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and get off to the shoulder. I received burns and deep bruises on my upper left arm and left side ribcage. Car was driveable from there, however the pre-tensioners for the seat belt also fired and could…
1 injury
ODI 10118283
Side/Window
Vehicle was on the road at 5 mph when all of a sudden the passenger side air bag deployed on its own. Manufacturer was contacted by the consumer.*ak
ODI 10111623
Bead · Side/Window
My daughter was exiting i-4 onto i-95 in daytona beach, fl. She was traveling about 45 mph, when the michilen tire on the right front wheel came off. This caused her to lose control of the 2002 vw jetta (30,000 miles) and roll the vehicle. She was injured and the only car involved in the accident. None of the airbags deployed. I am concerned that the side airbag should have deployed lessening her injuries, as her…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10109978